English Translation of Dante Inferno

Submitted by BerrylarryL t3_10pfz84 in books

I have been asked to read the Dantes Inferno in my college recently, why it feels like the English (Language) of the translation for this Poetry is so hard to understand? Why it feels like for certain sentences, it is extremely hard or even I am hardly understanding of what was being written?

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Thanks,

XRZ

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reachedmylimit t1_j6k8kma wrote

I like John Ciardi’s translation. It’s the one I read in college many years ago.

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Ilathariel t1_j6k9eop wrote

Dante uses a lot of terms, expressions and ways of saying that italian has and english doesen't. It's not simple to translate something that old, in a language that was half latin and half vulgar.

He also said many silly things. "Ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta", devils just farted

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Kris98tin t1_j6keok7 wrote

Is the translator trying to keep the terza rima/terzina ? Maybe it complicates the translation a bit... I mean I think the rhyme is essential for the musicality of it but if you're having a hard maybe you can try a blank verse translation and then observe the musicality on the Italian text (if jn your country translations have original text on the opposite page)?

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queensnyatty t1_j6l5sll wrote

A big part of the problem is not the language but the allusions. If you don’t know who made the “Great Refusal” or what a White Guelf is than you are going to need to stop reading the poem and read a long footnote. That’s guaranteed to kill your momentum and enjoyment.

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jpon7 t1_j6l6gid wrote

Replying to reachedmylimit (#1,631,499)

The Ciardi translation is still my favorite, but the one by Robert and Jean Hollander is also quite good, and it has the best critical apparatus of any English edition that I’ve come across. It’s worth it for the annotations alone.

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Kris98tin t1_j6mkzmd wrote

Replying to queensnyatty (#1,640,521)

I was supposing since OP is reading it in college that the professor is explaining some of that history in class... if the professors don't, American students have my deepest admiration tbh because how is anyone supposed to understand Dante who wrote about his contemporary history without... a lecture on his contemporary history...?

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MJIsaac t1_j6nn0ip wrote

I'm not by any means an expert, but I've read a few versions of Inferno. My favourite is easily the translation by Robert Pinsky, published in the late 90s.

He's a poet, as well as a translator, and he did an excellent job of capturing the essence of Inferno while making it much more accessible to a modern audience of more casual readers.

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Dusty_Chapel t1_j6o18nn wrote

It could just be the translation. Terza rima is notoriously difficult to translate into English, which is why blank verse is often the way to go. I really like Allen Mandelbaum’s translation for this reason: extremely readable, with ample footnotes and a great introduction.

The Everyman’s Library edition includes Botticelli’s’ sketches throughout, which is great for visualising the various scenes and set pieces. That’s the edition I choose whenever I want to reread it.

Gustave Dore’s illustrations and engravings of the Divine Comedy are equally legendary, and i’d also recommend having those handy as you read the poem - it makes for an amazing experience.

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caphst t1_j6o9t0r wrote

Fr I'm Brazilian and I have this book translated to my language. Honestly? I don't understand a fuck what is written on this shit, but I love it.

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